As 1010 WINS’ Gary Baumgarten reported, the fire had already spread to all three houses when the first fire companies rolled up.

For that reason, a second alarm was sounded and help came from a number of neighboring departments, Bayonne fire Chief Greg Rogers said.

“We made a request for mutual aid from some of the neighboring towns, and I extend my appreciation to Jersey City and North Hudson, Carnie and East Newark, who were all here braving the cold weather and the conditions that we had to deal with,” Rogers said.

More than 20 people were displaced by the blaze. There was no word on the cause as of Thursday evening.